Curtain-supporting structure



G. w.. DovER CURTAIN SUPPORTING -STRUCTUE Sept. 21.,.11926.A

Fi-led oct. e, 1925 l '2 sheet'sesheetA ver Z TTORNEY V Patented Sept. 2l, 19526.

inane GEO-ARGE VJ. DOVER,.GF.:PROVIDENGE, .RHODE SLANID.

onituininjsurlronriizro STRUCTURE.

Application filed Octobelj', 1925. Serial No. 69,756.

rllh'is invention relates to aniinproved curtain supporting structure for supporting lace curtains and draperies to positively hold tliein'in `position across the window, while enabling 'the -curtains to bei turned froniin iront of the window wheny desired so that the window may be opened and air admitted reelywitbout the curtains being blown into the 'iofoni orv out thewindow by the aircur-' l'lS-f f @ne cbj ect ot the invention is to provide a *st* ictuie ot'this character for supporting divided lace Vo'uitaii'is and a divided valance in s'i'ichv a manner that the draperies are held in position throughout substantially their` entire'l'engths at all tinies and so supported as ytorneet vat thelcenter of the windowand present the appearance'ofa single curtain.

"Another object oi the invention is the provision of vertically adjustablev supporting jai-"nis which may. be readily, adjusted to conform tothe length off the curtain desired or to Vcompensate for 'shrinkage of the curtain.

' [Another object of the invention is topico# vide weighted 'means overlying the curtains adapted to retain'the ytree portions of the curtains substantially in normal position` and prevent those portions" troni being -blown into thee room or out of the window when the window is opened. Y

il; further object of theinvention is to provide supporting ineans for both the top and bottoni ot a lace curtain which perniits 'the saine to be swung bodily into position before the window or out of in front .of the window.

fthefr. objects of the Linvention relate' to iniprovcd details of construction and .Ineth-V ods oi operation aswi'll be more `fully set t nth in the detailed descriptions to follow, lTiefer-ring to the drawings: A "i7" l is a front view of the structure as arr L Y and draperies in asseinbledposition, with one yo'rin ot weighted means for holding portions of the curtain against ybeing blown troni `tlie`innornial position,

2 is front viewof that part of the curtain supporting. structure `which is located uponr one side otth'e window,

-3 isasideelevational view ot they strncture Vslimvn in Fi..2, l

I Fig. 4'is a top plan view of the upper curtajinlsupporting nienibers, i 5 "s anV enlarged view of the .upper position,

`ing ineniber, and,

`d to awindow showing thecurtainsl bearing bracket, taken along the Aline 5:-.5 oit Fig. 3,

rig., .6 is' an enlarged View of the lower bearing'bracket, taken along theline 6-'-6 ot E ig. 3, l

Fig@u is a vertical sectionalview of the lace curtain, v"showing a-nirodilied torni of weighted means for 'holding portions of the curtain against being blown out of normalV p '.*Fig 8 is a perspective'view of the, clip eniployedl in connection `withl thatt'orinl of weighted ineinbersliownlinFig, 1, `-Fig. 9 is a detail front viewot a lace curtain showing another rnodilied forni of weighted nien'iber and' the supporting means therefor, s y, 'f Y Fig. Vlois a. detail sectional view f taken along the line -10 oit Fig. 9, l l Fi'gj ll is an" enlarged horizontal sectional view showing thelower drop curtain sup-v porting nieniber, talten' alongv the line 11-111 olfFigx,

Fig.' l2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view showingv the 'lower lace curtain supporting ineinber, taken along the line 1245412 ofiFigB, `v

l"Fig 13' 'is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line l8-'l3 oFg. y2 showing the i'orin of the extension ineinber and support` Fig. 14 is a detail View showingia portion ofy the drop curtain as seen' from they rear and showing the manner infwhich :it is secured to the lower lsupporting nieniber.

Y, In the embodiinentfot the invention as shown herewith l. designates a window ranie of conventional type to each 'side of y which a-re secured ,upperA and lower bearing brackets 2 and respectively for rotatablysupporting vertical shafts 4. The upper bearing brackets 2 located on oppositefsides ot the traine are ot similar construction'and are eachl provided with a lug. 5 adapt-ed to engage the outer edge of theffranie'l 'to which the bracket is securedfby screw'b. `Each of the brackets 2 is bent-i'd'jacent its free end to forni-a bearing 7 for rotatably .I

Each bracket 3 .is bent to forni a'fbearing.11V

for rotatably supporting the shaft 4 anda restricted opening 12 communicating with the bearing 11. Each of the lowerl bearing brackets 3 is provided uponV its upper face with depressions 14 for the reception of a pin 15 carried by the shaft 4 whereby the shaft 4 may be movably held in a variety of angular' positions.

The'shafts 4 upon opposite sides ofthe window frame are each provided with upper and lower reduced portions 17 and 18 spaced from each other a distance equal to theV distance between the corresponding upper Vand lower bearing brackets 2 and 3, whereby each shaft 4 may be positioned in the bearing brackets bypassing the reduced portionsthrough Ithe restricted openings in the upper and lower bearing brackets, where- Y upon each shaft 4 may be lowered into the position shown in Fig'. 3 when it will be supported by the pin 15 resting in one or more of the depressions 14of the lower bracket 3.

TheupperV end of each shaft 4 is threaded as shown in Figs.2 and 3, and provided with a stop nut 2O threaded thereon. Positioned above V'the nut 20 and adjustably sleeved width.

Voutwardly therefrom. formed to frictionally engage the solid porupon lthe shaft are a lace curtain supporting member 21, a drop curtain supporting" arm 22 and a valance supporting arm 23, while al lock nut 24 is threaded upon the upper end of the shaft above the valance supporting arm 23. rlhesupporting arms 21, 22 andv 23 are vlocated one above the other and are each provided with a circular portion sleeved overV the shaft 4, a straight shank portion 26, a curved portion 27 and a relatively straight end portion 28, the arrangement of the curved portions being such that the curved and straight end portions of the several arms are offset outwardly from each other from the lowest to the highest.

` Each of the arms 21, 22 and 23 are also formed of two parts, the portion carried by the shaft being formed of solid material as indicated at 30 while the end portion 31 is in the form of a sleeve which lits over the straight portion 28 of each arm and projects The sleeve 31 is tion- 30 of the arm at the points 32 whereby Vthesleeve may be drawn out to give the arm the desired length to fit windows of varying Thel supporting arms 21, 22 and 23 are vertically adjustable upon the shaft 4 by y varying the' position of the stop nut 20 to Y properly position the curtains and draperies relative to the top `of the window.

The lower lace curtain supporting arms 40 carried bythe shafts 4 may be formed as shown in Fig. 12 with duplicate portions 41 and 42, connected by a curved portion 43 surrounding the shaft. A bolt 44 is passed through the duplicate portions 41 and 42 adjacent tothe shaft 4 and provided with a nut 45 whereby the arms 40 maybe adjustably secured to the shafts 4 in any one of a plurality of adjusted positions to adaptV them for use with windows of varying. lengths as well as to permit adjustment due to shrinkage rof the curtains. of the duplicate portions 41 and 42 may be provided throughout a portion of their One or both length with curved projections 46 which be sleeved Y varied in length to fit windows of varyingV width and-the construction of the .extensions is preferably the ,same as that of the sleeves 31 as shown in Fig. 13.1 A clip 48 is kadapted to engage over the free ends of the extensions 47 to clamp the curtains between the duplicate portions ofv the curtain supporting arm. A .sheathl 50 of fabric material may be drawn'over one or both of the duplicate portions 41 and 42 to cover theV metal from view or the metal portions may be enameled if desired.

The lower drop curtain supporting arms 52 may be each formed with a curved portion 53 surrounding the shaft- 4 and an end vportion 54 positionedin proximity to the straight portion 26, these parts being capable of being drawn together to'clamp the arm to the shaft 4'by means of a bolt 55 passed through the portions 54 and 26 and provided with a nut 56 clamping the arm in any desired vertical 'position o n the shaft. The lower drop curtain supporting arms, like the arms 21, 22 and 23 arejprovided with extension sleeves 31 formed in a similar manner to the sleeves 31 and similarly mounted upon the drop curtain supporting arms. v The curtain supporting'structure above described is arranged in duplicate and positioned upon opposite sides of the window frame. Lace curtains 60 are supported by upper and lower lace curtain supporting arms 21 and 40, the upper portion of each curtain 60 being provided with a sewed slot for the reception of the upper lace curtain supporting arms 21 upon which the curtain may be gathered to form vertical gathers Vor pleats, the lower portion of each curtain appearance Yof a single curtain extendingV across the window. The curtains 60 being supported by the upper and lower curtain supporting arms are positively held in'posi- A portion of the valance.

accesos.

tion across the window between the upper and lower arms whereby they are positively held in extended position at all times between these points.

The drop curtains .6l are each provided, adjacent to the top thereof, with a sewed slot within which each supporting arm 22 is inserted, and a suitable .strip of fabric 62 may be sewed on to one side of each drop curtain near the lowerend thereof to form a slot within which lthe lower drop rcurtain supporting arm 52 may be inserted. The drop curtains .61 are thus supported adjacent to the top and lower ends thereof and are maintained in proper extended position between the upper and lower supporting arms, the drop curtains being gathered or pleated on the supporting arms if desired.

The valance (it is divided at the center of the window and is supported by the valance supporting arms 23 inserted in'the sewed slots or the likeformed in the upper edge rlhus `the valance, lace curtains and drop curtains are all supported by the duplicate curtain supporting structures located upon, opposite sides ot the frame andare capable of being turned into .the position shown in iront ot the window or away from in front of the window by rotating the shafts 4 which carry the curtain supporting arms.

The lower portions of the lace curtains 60 below the lower curtain supporting arms 40 and the lower portions of the drop curtain 61 below the curtain supporting arms 52 vare unsupported, and inorder to prevent these portions oit' the curtains trom swaying and being blown into the room yor out of the windo-w I provide one or more cords V66 which are passed over the upper edge of thecur- 'tains and extend downwardly on `either side thereof, as shown in Fig. l, the reeends of the cord on each side of .the curtain terminating in weighted tassels 67 which present an ornainented appearance land byA their weight serve to hold the lower ends ofthe curtains from being blown away from in iront ot the window. l/Vith this form of hole 'ng means l may employ aV clip,v 68 atapted to hold the cord in position and to lit over either the arm 2l or 2 2- to maintain each cord GG in properposition relative to the curtain. The clip 68 is provided upon opposite sides with slots 69 entering from opposed .edges through which the cord may pass so that `that portion of the coi-d overlying the upperedge of the curtain is located under the central portion of the clip. The clip 68 `is preferably made with outtnrned lips 1,70 formed at the lowerinos't edge or each side, and a slot 71 is cut in each lip to receive the cord 66. The clips serve to retain the cords in proper position upon the upper curtain supporting arms at all time.

In Figs. 9 and 10 l have shown a modi.- iied torni of weighted cords for holding the lower edges of the curtains inV place, wherein l einployhooks 72 to be passed through the curtain fabric above the upper curtain supporting arms each of said4 hoolrs being provided with an eye 73 for the reception of a cord. ln this 'torni of the invention the cord 75L is passed through the eyes .78 ot two hooks both located on one side of the curtain so that both weighted ends .of the cord'extend downwardly andare located upon one side ot' the curtain.

in Fig. l have shown a further modi.- ed torni of the weighted cord wherein the cord' is made in the torni et a loop suiiiciently large toV extend over the top of .the upper curtain supporting arm and downwardly on each side below the curtain where a single weighted tassel 8l 1is attached to the .cord and the curtain thereby held against undue movement in either direction.V Y

From the above description it will be seen that lhave provided a curtain supporting structure tor positivelysupporting each cur'- tain at points adjacent to the top and bottoni parts thereof whereby'the .curtains inay be turnedinto position in iront of the window or away from in front ot the window as desired. The upper and lower curtain supporting arms being adjustable .on the shafts i may be adjusted vertically as'y .desired to adapt the same to tit windows of different lengths or to .compensate ktor shrinkage of the curtains. Moreover the tire curtain supporting structure mayV bodily removed from the window or re.- placed thereon by withdrawing the reduced portions 17 and 18 or' the shaft 4 from the restricted openings 8 and 12 in the brackets 2 and 3 or pass them therethrough. The lower lace curtain supporting arm structure as shown in Fig. 12 is so constructed as to` provide a means for supporting the cur.- tains by engaging the saine 'between two meinbe "s whereb-ythe curtains may be readily secured in place or treed from engagement with the curtain supporting arin.l

What I claim is: 1.A curtain supporting structure coniprising a pair .of separately positioned vertically aligned brackets, each provided with a bearing opening and a reduced lateral Iopening communicating therewith, a vertically positioned shaft provided with reduced portions bodily insertable by lateral movement or removable from said brackets,

and upper and lower' vcurtain supportingV arms ,carried by said shaft.

2. A curtain supporting structure .coinprising a rotatable shaft, upper and lower curtain supporting arms carried by said shaft, said upper and lower curtain supporting arms being off-set horizontally whereby spaced curtains may be carried by said arms loo prising a pair of bearing brackets provided with' vertically aligned bearings and having restricted openings communicating with said bearings, a shaft provided with reduced portions whereby said shaft may be laterally inserted in or removed from said bearings, and upper and lower supporting arms-adjustably mounted on saidfshaft whereby said upper and lower supporting arms may be secured to said shaft at varying distances vfrom each other. v Y

v5.-In a curtain supporting structure, a pair of upper and lower curtain supporting arms vertically spaced from each other, said upper and lower arms being olf-set horizontally from each other, and a valance supporting arm adjacent to said upper curtain supporting Varms and o-set therefrom, a

Y rotatable support common to all of said arms, and means for retaining s aid support in a plurality of angularly adjusted positions.

6. The combination with a window frame of curtains therefor Comprising oppositely positioned vertically arranged draperies and a divided valance extending from either side ofthe frame to a point adjacent to the center of the window, and common means for sup porting said curtains and valance.

7. The combination with a window frame of curtains therefor comprising oppositely positioned vertically arranged draperies and a divided valance extending from either side ofthe frame to a point adjacent to the center of the window, and common means 'for supporting said curtains and valance comprising a rotatable shaft movable to bodily posi- Y tion said curtain and valance in front of the front of the winlcarried by said shaft above and below said upper and lower bracketsrespectively, said upper curtain supporting arms being off-set horizontally from each other and said lower curtain supporting arms being oH-set horizontally from each other, for supporting curtain members -in oni-set relation to'each other and maintaining the same in extended position. l

9. In a device of the character described, a curtain supporting arm comprising a curved portion for surrounding a shaft, a straight portion extending from one side of said first named curved portion and merging into a second curved portion, a straight portion extending from the other sideof said first named curve-d portion, means for clamping said straight portions together to bind said first named curved portion securely to said shaft, and an extension member slidably supported by said curtain supporting arm to vary the effective length thereof.

l0. A curtain supporting` structure comprising a rotatable shaft provided with reduced portions, and a vpair of vertically aligned brackets for supporting said shaft, each of saidbrackets being provided with a bearing opening serving as a bearing forV said shaft and having aV restricted opening communicating with the bearing opening for admitting the reduce portions of said shaft to the bearing opening, whereby said shaft may be positioned within or removed from said bearings by lateral movement of said shaft. l

1l. A curtain supporting structure comprising a rotatable shaft provided with reduced portions, a pair of vertically aligned brackets for supporting said shaft, each of' said brackets beingy provided with a bearing opening serving as a bearingV for the shaft and having a restricted opening communieating with the bearing` opening for admitting the reduced portion of said shaft to the bearing opening, and upper and lower curtain supporting arms carried by said shaft whereby that portion of the curtain intermediate said arms is maintained in extended position. Y

12. A curtaink supporting structure Vcomprising a rotatable shaft provided with reso-V duced portions, and a pair of vertically aligned brackets for supporting said shaft, each of said brackets comprising a'portion adapted to be secured to a win-dow frame and a free end bent to form a bearing 'for said shaft anda reduced opening communi'- eating with said bearing;

' In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature. Y

GEORGE W. DOVER. 

